Sunnyvale/San Jose/Mountain View/Palo Alto -- Things to Do with Kids and Places to Live?

[OMama]

Sorry for the ridiculously long title of this thread. DH and the kids and I are planning a trip in Sept to visit this area. My brother lives in Palo Alto, but we will be staying at a hotel in Sunnyvale. The intent of our trip is to visit with my brother, have a fun vacation, and to check out the area for possible re-locating options. There is a possibility my DH may have a job *eventually* in Redwood City, but it is all very much up in the air. Finances are definitely an issue.

Where do you mamas all congregate? What are some good parks, kids museums, things to do? And where do you live? What is your area like? I've been to SF before but that's it!

[rightkindofme]

This is a great park in Palo Alto and they have a good pool: Rinconada Park

Other than that... I live in the east bay.

[jazcat]

I live in San Francisco, but go down there are a few things I know about. If you're in the mood for swimming, check out Menlo Swim - www.menloswim.com. They have drop in. Very nice pools, including baby pool. There's an adjacent playground too.

Also, I haven't been, but heard wonderful things about the Palo Alto kids zoo - http://www.friendsjmz.org/visit.html. HTH.

[Panthira]

Children's discovery museum in san jose.
Tech museum in san jose.
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo in san jose.

I should ask you more of what you are looking for while visiting. You can go to the beach in Half Moon Bay, you can go to Coyote Point in Redwood city if you're into nature and hiking. Palo alto has excellent parks and a small children's zoo right next to a park (the one list in the PP). There are plays you can see in Mtn View (my old town), and Cuesta Park is nice there too. You can go to Los Altos and visit the farm in San Antonio park there (Deer Hollow Far?), which is a short and easy walk-in.

There is so much to do in that area, I don't think you'll be bored.

ETA: Oh, I live in the east bay now, but I'm a transplant from Mtn View/Palo Alto, and lived there for over 20 yrs.

[Greenfrogs]

There is lots of great hiking near Palo Alto, plenty of bike trails and tons of parks.

[OMama]

Thanks for all the responses. Please keep the good suggestions coming!

Yes, we are definitely into parks and hiking. That is one thing I'm a little nervous about if we leave this area. We are definitely into green spaces and the outdoors. We have many places we can go to not far from our house now. I'm a little afraid that we'll be leaving too much of that behind. I just don't know what to expect.

[Greenfrogs]

Originally Posted by OMama

Thanks for all the responses. Please keep the good suggestions coming!

Yes, we are definitely into parks and hiking. That is one thing I'm a little nervous about if we leave this area. We are definitely into green spaces and the outdoors. We have many places we can go to not far from our house now. I'm a little afraid that we'll be leaving too much of that behind. I just don't know what to expect.

One of the things I love most about the Bay Area is the number of outdoor activities that are easy to get to. From Palo Alto the beach is 30 minutes away (if there isn't an event), hiking trails are just up the hill, the sierras are just a few hours drive, PA has a great public pool and there are plenty of great tennis courts (my bias).

[GinaRae]

Originally Posted by Greenfrogs

One of the things I love most about the Bay Area is the number of outdoor activities that are easy to get to. From Palo Alto the beach is 30 minutes away (if there isn't an event), hiking trails are just up the hill, the sierras are just a few hours drive, PA has a great public pool and there are plenty of great tennis courts (my bias).

Yes, that.
The beach may be sand and surf and not green, but generally the kids love it!

[OMama]

Does anyone have any specific hiking trail suggestions? I think we'd like to go on at least two hikes while we are there if we can. We are hoping to go to Santa Cruz one day -- DH is quite curious about the big old wooden roller coaster. (And so am I, I admit) So, I wonder if there is a hike out there we could do. I think we'll plan on spending the day out there. And then maybe another hike closer to the Palo Alto area or Half Moon Bay. Are there hikes out there?

Also, can anyone explain to me how to talk about this region? Is the whole area the Bay Area? Where does East Bay start? Is there a "west bay" as well? Do people refer to Redwood City for example as being part of the west bay? And what is San Jose considered? Is that "part of the bay?" I'm confused. What other geographical terms should I know? I assume that San Francisco is referred to as "the city." Am I right?

Lastly, any suggestions for visiting wine country and seeing redwoods . . . how far north would we have to go? I would like to go to at least one or two wineries. Are most places relatively kid friendly? Ours are here. I just don't know what wineries are like elsewhere. Oh, and is it worth trying to go to "gold country." We love historical stuff and would like to see an old ghost town or mining town (if it isn't more than a two hour drive). Suggestions? THANKS!

[gmkarr]

Bay Area overview

Also, can anyone explain to me how to talk about this region? Is the whole area the Bay Area? Where does East Bay start? Is there a "west bay" as well? Do people refer to Redwood City for example as being part of the west bay? And what is San Jose considered? Is that "part of the bay?" I'm confused. What other geographical terms should I know? I assume that San Francisco is referred to as "the city." Am I right?



This Wikipedia link for the Bay Area should give you a good overview: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Bay_Area

[OMama]

Thanks for the wikipedia link. It was actually very helpful!

[eblythebrown]

Castle Rock State Park Near Saratoga is agreat place to hike because kids looooove climbiung on the rocks and the hikes are pretty short.

[OMama]

Thanks!

Has anyone done this RoaringCamp train trip through the redwoods?
http://www.roaringcamp.com/steam.html

[jazcat]

Originally Posted by OMama

Thanks!

Has anyone done this RoaringCamp train trip through the redwoods?
http://www.roaringcamp.com/steam.html

Not I, but thanks for the idea! My son loves trains. They also have a steam train in Berkeley in Tilden Park, should you find yourselves in that area.

There's lots of wineries around - you wouldn't have to go far north to Napa/Sonoma. Saratoga, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno....lots of wineries. I'm sure Santa Cruz area has their fair share. A friend of mine just went horse back riding at one of the Saratoga wineries recently. They welcome kids there too.

Redwoods - we went camping a few years ago in Butano State Park, right under some very tall redwoods. But really, redwoods are everywhere. You could probably do the Santa Cruz beach, steam train, redwoods/hike and winery in one day. Ok, maybe that's pushing it. But geographically speaking....

[kssinca]

I did the late evening one. They provide dinner and when it gets dark, you climb on these open air, bench seating trains. It gets very cold so bring a jacket and a hat! They give you a little keychain light and talk a little about the history of the area during the ride.

When you get back, they have apple pie and apple cider and there's dancing.

[KJoy]

Originally Posted by jazcat

Redwoods - we went camping a few years ago in Butano State Park, right under some very tall redwoods.

I second Butano State Park. It is a gem. When you're done hiking there you can go a few miles down the road to have lunch in Pescadero, a cute, cute coastal town, and then play at the beach/visit the goat farm/birdwatch in the marsh.

Also, my absolute favorite close-to-home hike is Heritage Grove (in Sam Macdonald Park, which happens to be on the way to Pescadero). It's about 35 mins. from Palo Alto, off of Hwy 84 (Woodside Rd.). The trails wind along a stream through stunning redwoods; there's a nice short loop for little legs, and longer loop options that take you to great views of the Santa Cruz mtns. Don't miss this one! Feel free to PM me.

Originally Posted by gmkarr

can anyone explain to me how to talk about this region? Is the whole area the Bay Area? Where does East Bay start? Is there a "west bay" as well? Do people refer to Redwood City for example as being part of the west bay

Redwood City is part of the Peninsula, which is south of SF down to about Mt.View or Sunnyvale; south of there is the South Bay. Also, west of the Santa Cruz mtns. is the Coastside (Half Moon Bay, etc). So, you've got East Bay, SF proper, Peninsula, Coastside, South Bay. There's also Marin and the areas north of SF, but I'm not familiar with that area, so someone else will have to tell you about that.

[OMama]

Thanks again for all the great info, mamas. I've got most everywhere you all recommended bookmarked on googlemaps for our trip! I think we'll have plenty to keep us entertained. We arrive tomorrow morning. I'm excited!

[P-chan]

Aaak, in case you're still checking:

1. Bonny Doon is a winery in the Santa Cruz mountains.

2. Visiting Stanford University can be very, very fun. There is lots of space for kids to run, fountains that are OK to splash in, and a cool (and free!) art museum. The cafe at the museum is spendy but very good.

[OMama]

That's good to know about Stanford. My brother actually works there so I think we were going to go there at some point. He doesn't have kids though so he wouldn't have necessarily thought about it this way.